Trade Option: Grady Sizemore

From 2005 to 2008, Grady Sizemore was one of the best young hitters in the game. Over that four season stretch he put up impressive numbers, topping out with a .290 average and a league-leading 53 doubles in 2006, 101 walks in 2007, and 33 homers and 38 steals in 2008. In his rookie year of 2005, the outfielder put up a .289/22/81 stat line. All very exciting numbers.

In 2009, Sizemore’s decline became apparent as injuries began to take their toll. Late in the season – after struggling through much of it – he elected to have surgery on his nagging left elbow which had sapped his power and ruined his year. A week after his elbow was repaired, Sizemore had another surgery to fix a hernia which was brought on by a groin injury, which also killed his season.

The worst had yet to come for the Indians centerfielder at that point as in 2010 he’d play in just 33 games, cutting his year short after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee.

It appears that Cleveland is now trying to gauge interest on the face of their tattered franchise, one that has won fewer than 70 games in back-to-back seasons. However, would it make sense for the Indians to deal their star while his trade value is at it’s lowest point? There are two layers to that.

On one hand, they may want to recoup some younger players if they believe Sizemore’s best days are in the past.

On the other hand, it might make more sense to wait it out and see what he can offer them for the 2011 season and either keep him around for the future or look for a better deal at the trade deadline.

If they decide to pursue the trade, would – or should – the Phillies show interest for another left-handed bat?

Sizemore is owed $7.5 million in 2011 and has a 2012 club option for $8.5 million that becomes a player option should he be traded. The contract is very friendly, but that really isn’t the issue here. It’s clearly the health of his surgically-repaired knee.

According to Anthony Castrovince, the Indians MLB.com beat writer, Sizemore is progressing well and is on schedule to return to lineup for opening day. As we all know, setbacks can occur, especially with such a delicate surgery. It’s still positive news considering he had the procedure less than six months ago.

As for his left-handedness, it’s a long-shot that the Phillies would want to add yet another to their order. His .230 career split against lefty pitching is surely a problem, but with a drought of righty hitters available for the position the Phillies would need to fill, perhaps adding a proven lefty hitter that was once at the top of position would work out just the same. Again, it’s not likely, but Sizemore has the talent to make up for the deficiency against the lefty-lefty matchup.

If Ruben Amaro doesn’t mind yet another lefty, a Sizemore addition could enable a Jimmy Rollins move to fifth or sixth in the order. Sizemore is a proven leadoff guy, evident in his 3,181 plate appearances at the top of the lineup and his 134 career stolen bases. If Rollins bats in an RBI-producing position, would that make up for the right-handed inadequacies this team would have without Jayson Werth? Absolutely not. But it would be a start.

It’s nearly impossible to say what the Phillies would have to part with to acquire Sizemore. You would have to believe that if he were truly available Ruben Amaro and his boys would be doing their homework on the three-time all star.

CHANCES: Sizemore’s availability is in question because there of the aforementioned injuries, etc. The Phillies will question whether or not another left-handed batter is the right move. If the Indians are listening, Ruben Amaro should at the very least give a call. The Phillies have done well with the Indians before and perhaps they can steal another franchise staple.

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27 Comments

I really do not understand why the FO would even look into trading for a LH bat, especially on that can not hit left handed pitching, unless Raul is going somewhere, and they are keeping Wreth.
How optimistic are those out here in the Singleton? kid who they are trying to convert to the outfield, to be able to contribute, in 2011, or 2012. Becau tse that would make a big difference in how you aproach left field this year. A long term guy or a short fix.

Would you be willing to trade Ibanez and a prospect or two for Sizemore straight up?

Think about it… the Indians probably can’t afford to keep him and there are major health concerns. It would actually be saving us money over the next couple of years and Sizemore’s production when healthy would replace what we are losing with the departure of Werth.

This is armchair GM’ingat its finest (borderline nuts and unlikely to happen) but I’m bored and it’s Monday.

@beta I don’t think there’s really any chance that we see Singleton until 2013. Maybe a September call-up in 2012 if he’s ridiculously gangbusters in the minors. But he’s just 18, and spent the year in Lakewood. If things go well, I’d assume he’d spend next year in Clearwater, the year after in Reading and then the year after in Lehigh.

Would be risky trying to acquire Sizemore what with him coming off of Knee surgery, if you were out to acquire another left-handed hitter who has not hit lefties well in the past. Would be smart to see how he is able to rebound with Cleveland or another team first before trying to acquire him. Would be wise to acquire him at trade deadline time should he show that he is playing well coming off of surgery.

Sizemore doesn’t fit in the 2010 Phils, but that doesn’t mean he won’t fit the 2011 Phils. The only position players guaranteed to be here in 11 are Utley, Howard, and Ruiz. Everyone else, including Dom, are fair game. If we resign Werth, move Vic and/or Brown and/or Ibanez, Sizemore would be worth a shot. I don’t think we’re going to see a major overhaul, but you never really know.

As Chuck said, Monday on a holiday week, nothing to complain about in the Eagles win last night, time to daydream a bit.

Grady had Greg Oden surgery, one which Oden is about to have again on his other knee. Of course baseball players don’t put near as much stress on their knees as guys that jump for a living, and many athletes have come back from microfracture surgery just fine. I don’t know, it just scares me.

Now if we could rejuvenate the Ted Sizemore of 1977, that would be great! One of my favorite all time Phillies even though he was really only productive here one year. Harry K once said “Time and time again Sizemore comes through in the clutch!”

Publius – Sizemore hasn’t been a star since 2008. He played 106 injury plagued games in 2009 and then 33 games this season. What’s the value of Grady Sizemore right now? Not much but what’s the value of Grady Sizemore if he doesn’t have a bounceback year? There are no guarantees coming back from microfracture knee surgery – setbacks are common.

Regardless, with or without him, Cleveland is not winning anything this season and unless he has a bounce back year, the Indians are going to have to make a tough decision in 2012 – spend $9 million to keep him around or let him walk and get nothing? If they can add a productive outfielder and some prospects, why wouldn’t they consider it? If you’re the Indians GM, your options are keep Grady and pray that he has a bounceback season (losing 95 games in the process) or trade Grady and build for the future (losing 95 games in the process).

The Column is really great — fun to read and informative. Regarding Grady Sizemore — NO !!! Left hander who does not handle lefties well and injury prone. Not what we need. I hate to say it, but Jeff Francoeur looks like a real good platoon option. What about Bill Hall as an all-around utility player? Or Jose Lopez? Maybe, just maybe, I am full of stuffing even before Thanksgiving. Seems like decent right handed bats are like hen’s teeth — few and far between. I think Amaro will really have to pull a rabbit out of his hat on this one.

Are the Phillies even think that either Miller and/or Moss guy are going to do anything this year, I mean they are what 27/28 and seemingly productive in the minors for other teams. I do not follow other teams minor leagues, but the numbers seem to be ok. Moss seems to have some power and Miller a better average. What is the chance that either of these guys could platoon with Brown, or replace Wreth. And is there going to be a Justin Upton trade thread. Or is that too far fetched

I find a way to make the Justin Upton deal conditionally on his Labrum. You get younger, save money for other needs and get a solid RH stick. Otherwise I hope Boston gets him because then there’s a great shot Werth is back on a 4 year deal.

I like the Manny idea. After we get him – for about the bazillion bucks he’ll want for his worthless behind – then we can offload Jack Sanford for Ruben Gomez … and now that we’ve got Ryne Sandberg back, we can ditch him again for some utility infielder.

A Brown-Francisco platoon is sounding better all the time. At least Francisco can probably hit lefties better than Quentin or Sizemore, and he wouldn’t cost a player or two. Even if Brown can’t quite play to everyone’s expectations yet, he would gain experience and still probably get by.

Also, I doubt the Brewers are looking to trade Hart, and the Yanks aren’t interested in any outfielders (Crawford and Werth included) so I don’t think they’ll be moving Swisher.

I know Francoeur hits lefties, but how much better would he be than Francisco? And he can’t hit righties, so you’d still need to platoon him with Brown. And “base on balls” has never been in his vocabulary.

I can’t comment on Manny; I roll on the floor laughing even thinking about that option!

I know Ben Fran isn’t a savior, but Jeff Francouer – Mr April? By the way, he wants to play every day (from fangraphs): “Francouer has been worth almost exactly replacement level in total from 2008 to 2010. It isn’t as if he has been hurt or seen reduced playing time, either, averaging almost 600 plate appearances a season over that time. His wOBA in that period is the worst among qualified outfielders at .298 — that is not a misprint. Given that he’s hardly even worth using as a platoon player, why would a team give him more than the league minimum, much less promise him a full-time job? ”

While he has a cannon arm and is a decent fielder, he’s a right handed version of Ibanez at the plate, only not as good.

Skip on Frenchy. I’d rather see one of the minor leaguers covered previously. At least they won’t cop an attitude if platooning.